Story Archives

Step by step we are working to restore the health of Puget Sound, the rivers and our Pacific coast. We're working through the Puget Sound Partnership clean-up effort and also implementing the Tribal/State Ocean Ecosystem Initiative an ecosystem-based approach to management of our Pacific coastal waters to make this part of the world a healthier place for all of us to call home.

Marysville's annual celebration, the Strawberry Festival, which brings out the best in the city and its residents, kicks off this week and culminates June 22 after more than a week filled with a variety of family-oriented fun.

n Last week's decision by the state Boundary Review Board approving a proposal to make Smokey Point part of the city of Arlington has appeal possibilities, according to Mickie Jarvill, the attorney representing residents fighting the plan. Jarvill noted that after the June 9 BRB hearing that several procedural and jurisdictional issues caught her attention which could be grounds for appealing the annexation decision. Jarvill questions whether the same decision would have been reached had the "full" five-member board been in attendance. Board member John Walker of Sultan is ill and did not attend any of the Smokey Point annexation hearings. The decision was voted on by the remaining four members Mary Hale, Kevin Laverty, Mike Papa and Cal Rutherford. Rutherford missed the May 12 hearing, but was present for the second public hearing on May 26 and the deliberation and vote on June 9. He also listened to a tape of the meeting he missed. Jarvill wants clarified what the BRB meant by the term "as submitted" in the motion to approved the proposal, from 152nd north to 175th, or the area modified and approved by the BRB that added the residential areas north of 175th, or Arlington's part of the negotiated agreement between Arlington, Marysville and Fire District No. 12. She also believes the BRB erred in assuming the county-approved Urban Growth Boundary can be used as physical boundaries.

Discussion, and even debate, on issues is a good thing. Democracy depends upon an informed and participating citizenry and we have too little public involvement in public issues. Fortunately, we have a local newspaper which not only reports on local events and issues, but reserves space for citizens to express their own views and concerns by submitting a 'Letter to the Editor.'

On Friday, May 30, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer fundraiser at Fanny's Restaurant in Marysville. I saw a terrific family unit working together as one with the sole purpose of helping others.

On behalf of the Marysville Community Food Bank, I want to express our deep appreciation to all the Postal Workers who participated in the Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 10. We extend a special thanks to Rocky and Abe at the Marysville Post Office and Annex. The extra time and effort resulted in a collection of over 21 tons of food, all of which will remain in Marysville and will be distributed to the hungry in our service area.

What is Marysville's Planned Parenthood Clinic contribution to the national abortion statistics? Have they gone down as the national trend has gone down? According to LifeSiteNews.com, Planned Parenthood reported 289,650 abortions and received $336 million in public funding in 2006, while their bottom line indicated $112 million profit.

On behalf of the members of the Arlington Masonic Lodge 129, we would like to thank all the families in Gleneagle who participated in the Lodge's 3rd annual clothing drive, coinciding with the Gleneagle garage sale. Your donations were greatly appreciated. The Masons collected and sorted 50 yard bags full of clothing. The clothing was then given to the Kid's Kloset and Helping Hands, both non-profit organizations here in Arlington. The clothing drive was once again a success, thanks to you.

ARLINGTON Area churches and volunteers have come together to help victims of last year's flooding in Lewis County, Wash., rebuild their homes and lives, but more help is needed, and the Arlington Free Methodist Church is offering another opportunity to pitch in.

It's the end of an era at Biringer Farm this weekend. The 19th annual and final Pig Out runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 and 22 at Biringer Farm, an official sponsor of the Marysville's Strawberry Festival.

A participant in the upcoming Art in the Barn, Rocky Barrick won first place in the "works on canvas" category at the Stanwood-Camano Art Guild Spring Show, June 7 and 8, for his work, "Couple of Old Crows."

SEATTLE Musical theater students of Arlington, Marysville and Stanwood were among 2,200 high school students, teachers and parents from across Washington state packed into Benaroya Hall, June 9, for the sixth annual 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

This Friday through Sunday at Legion Park in the north end of Everett is the 11th annual Sorticulture, Everett's Garden Arts Festival part art, part horticulture. Sorticulture will showcase artists presenting a variety of handcrafted, locally-made garden embellishments, and specialty nurseries presenting a wide array of rare and unusual plants.